Sand box and drier



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD MCDOVELL, OF LAMBERTVILLE, NEW' JERSEY.

SAND BOX AND DRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 431,911, dated July 8,1890.

Application filed March 7, 1890. Serial No. 842,998- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RICHARD MCDOWELL, of Lambert'ville, in the county ofI-Iunterdon and State of New Jersey, have invented anew and usefulImprovement in Sand Boxes and Driers, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to sand-boxes for 10- comot-ivcs, its objectbeing to locate the sandbox in such a position on or near the smokeboxor stack of the locomotive that it will receive heat therefrom, andthereby keep the sand dry, so that it will run freely through thesand-pipes to the track. It also has for' its obj eet to act as a drierfor the sand when it is first received, and thus dispense with the useof a drying-oven at the engine-house.

My invention is fully illustrated in the accom panying drawings, whichform part of this specification, and in which similar letters ofreference indicate corresponding parts.

Figure 1 represents in outline a side elevation of a locomotive, showingmy improved sand box and drier as it will appear when located on top ofthe smoke-box and surrounding the stack; and Fig. 2 represents avertical section through the center of the stack and sandbox, to showthe manner in which the sand is confined and its close proximity to thedry heat of the smoke-box and stack.-

Figs. 3 and 4 represent modifications of my invention.

The stack A, smoke-box B, tubes 0, and exhaust-nozzle D, in fact thewhole front end of the locomotive, may be of any desired constructionwithout interfering with the application or usefulness of my device.

The manner of applying the device is preferably illustrated as in theform of a drum surrounding the stack, as shown at E, Figs. 1 and 2, thesand being incased, as at G, Fig. 2. This drum is bolted to thesmoke-box shell, as shown at Ct 60. The sand-pipe e, as shown in Fig. 1,is connected to the sand-box, as shown at f, Fig. 1, and is providedwith the usual valve g and rod h for opening and closing the same.

It has been the custom heretofore to locate the sand-box-on a locomotiveon top of the boiler just forward of the dome, also in the wheel-guardjust forward of the driving wheels, but this custom has caused no end oftrouble. The sand would keep moist and clog in the pipes, and at timesit would be impossible to use the sand at all. Then the sand is receivedin bulk at the round-house, it is usually very damp and must be dried inan oven before it is lit for use in the sand-boxes. This, however, willnot be necessary where my improved box is used. There will be no dangerof the sand get-ting damp and cloggin up the pipes, owing to the factthat it is constantly receiving dry heat from the smokebox and stack.

The manner of applying my improved sandbox as illustrated seems to bethe most practicable with the present form of locomotive; but it couldbe applied in several other forms. As, for example, it could be made inthe form of a half-cylindrical tank and rest across the smoke-box eitherbefore or behind the stack, as shown in Fig. 3; or it could be made inthe form of cheek-boxes and placed one on either side of the smoke-box,as shown in Fig. 4, and several other forms without materially alt-eringthe principle or benefitsderived from my invention. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim therefor, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. The sand-box of a locomotive secured to and in combination with thesmoke-box B, so

the purpose specified.

2. The combination of the sand-box E, stack A, and smoke-box B,constructed and arranged together as specified, and for the purpose setforth.

In testimony that .I claim the foregoing improvement in sand boxes anddriers, as above described, I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day ofFebruary, 1890.

RICHARD MCDOXVELL.

Vitnesses:

M. L. TRIMMER,

WM. LYMAN.

that it will receive heat therefrom, as and for

